Abu Dhabi , UAE -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- CNN Abu Dhabi , the latest newsgathering expansion from the global news brand , opens its doors today , it was announced by Tony Maddox , MD and EVP CNN International .

Maddox was joined for the opening in Abu Dhabi by Phil Kent , chairman and CEO of CNN parent company Turner Broadcasting System , Inc , and by Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour and presenter Richard Quest , both in Abu Dhabi filming for the network .

Other senior executives attending from CNN included Katherine Green , head of programming for the network , Rani Raad , head of CNN 's commercial arm in the region , and Abu Dhabi-based Tom Fenton , Managing Editor , Middle East .

CNN 's new state-of-the-art production center and newsgathering hub for the Middle East will also be home to CNN 's first ever daily live news show from the region .

`` PRISM , '' hosted by news veteran Stan Grant , debuts this evening and joins existing feature shows `` Inside the Middle East '' and `` Marketplace Middle East '' as a major addition to its regionally based programming portfolio .

`` The Middle East has played a significant role in CNN 's heritage and is part of our DNA . Two of our earliest international bureaus were in Cairo and Jerusalem , '' said Maddox . `` This region unquestionably plays an integral part in world affairs , and the new hub in the UAE gives us the opportunity to get even closer to the heart of the rich and diverse stories across the political , business , social and cultural spectrums . ''

`` The establishment of a permanent broadcast and production center in the Middle East by CNN is a significant and unique move by a Western news broadcaster , '' added Maddox . `` It gives CNN a powerful base from which to coordinate seven regional bureaus and also launch a new daily news show from the Middle East . ''

The new facility sits alongside CNN 's existing 32 international newsgathering operations which also includes three other digital production centers in Hong Kong , London and Mexico City .

CNN Abu Dhabi will coordinate newsgathering for the seven CNN operations in the region : Baghdad , Beirut , Cairo , Dubai , Jerusalem , Kabul and Islamabad .

With more than two dozen staff , CNN Abu Dhabi not only consolidates CNN Worldwide 's investment in global newsgathering ; it also underlines CNN 's growth strategy which includes the commercial launch of the CNN Wire , the unveiling of the new CNN.com and the addition of new prime time shows across CNN International and , in the United States , HLN .

Built as a fully HD and on-line production facility , CNN Abu Dhabi houses a four-camera digital studio , with 24/7 live capability , edit suites and fully integrated newsroom .

First daily scheduled show from the region

For the first time in CNN 's history , daily live news show `` PRISM , '' presented by Stan Grant , will be broadcast from the Middle East . CNN Abu Dhabi will also be home to CNN 's perennially popular feature shows , `` Inside the Middle East , '' now in its sixth year , and `` Marketplace Middle East , '' which launched two years ago .

Launching November 3 , PRISM -- the tenth new show to be launched on CNN International in the past 12 months -- joins the network 's new primetime line-up , uniting Stan Grant , Christiane Amanpour , Richard Quest , Becky Anderson and Fionnuala Sweeney , Michael Holmes and Hala Gorani in a schedule that between them covers off business and current affairs programming , breaking news and behind-the-scenes reportage in distinctive formats .

Content Ownership

CNN 's content ownership strategy has provided a wealth of new material for all of CNN 's platforms , across TV , on-line and mobile and CNN 's commercial wire service , while also allowing that content to be aggregated to affiliates .

Since early 2008 CNN has opened seven new editorial operations across Africa , Asia , Latin America and now the Middle East , as well as placing additional correspondents in many existing operations .

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CNN opens Abu Dhabi production center and newsgathering hub today

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Abu Dhabi is the latest newsgathering expansion for the network

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The state-of-the-art production center will co-ordinate CNN 's Middle East newsgathering

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Center will be home to `` PRISM , '' CNN 's first ever daily live news show from the region .